The Playfair Project » The Construction

This huge undertaking was led by Michael Clarke, Director of the National Gallery of Scotland, assisted by Scott Robertson, the Project Advisor.

The project team comprised:

Bovis Lend Lease (Scotland) Ltd, Project Managers

John Miller & Partners, Architects

Davis Langdon LLP, Cost Consultants

SVM Consulting Engineers, Services Consultants

Anthony Hunt Associates Ltd, Structural Engineers

Heery International Ltd, Construction Managers

John Miller & Partners have also worked on large projects at Tate Britain in London and at the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.

The work was carried out in two phases:

Restoration of the Royal Scottish Academy Building, which was in a very poor state. Subsidence, due to the rotting of the wooden supports which underpinned the building, had caused huge cracks to appear and the building was becoming increasing unstable. The refurbished building brought the galleries up to the highest international standards, providing ideal environmental conditions for delicate and priceless works of art. A new lift and entrance allowed extremely large art works to be displayed. This phase was completed in the summer of 2003.

The creation of the Gardens Entrance, created by the excavation of 50,000 tons of soil. New lifts and stairways connect the Gardens Entrance to both the Gallery and the Academy.

The entire project was completed in August 2004, eight months ahead of schedule. It was formally opened by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.